Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

I irritate myself sometimes. Although I've tried a few times to read Golden Age mysteries, they just don't seem to be for me. However, time will pass and once again I'll begin to feel that I'm missing out on something. This is why I picked up Dorothy L. Sayers' very first Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, Whose Body? I've always had the feeling that-- if I liked any Golden Age mystery writer-- I would like her.In this book, Lord Peter's mother the Dowager Duchess of Denver has called to tell him that the architect she's hired to do some work on her local church has stumbled across a body in his bath wearing nothing put a pair of pince-nez. London's Inspector Sugg is convinced that Thipps the architect is guilty. While Lord Peter begins his investigation for Thipps, he learns that his friend Inspector Parker is looking into the disappearance of Sir Reuben Levy, a famous financier. Lord Peter must find out what's happened to Sir Reuben as well as identify that body in Thipps' bath to get the mild-mannered architect out of hot water.

After reading the first few chapters of this book, I almost gave up in disgust. The pages were filled with dialogue that was supposed to be sparkling and witty but only sounded like dated, superficial piffle. (See? I may not have read Sayers before, but I've evidently been able to mine a nugget or two from various sources.)

Fortunately the book settled down and steered clear of conversational piffle throughout the rest of the story, and I actually enjoyed watching Wimsey figure out identities, timelines, and what actually happened. In fact I enjoyed it enough to start looking for the second book in the series. All you Golden Age mystery lovers-- there may be hope for me yet!

6 comments:

I started reading these last year, having tried once before and, like you, found Wimsey's dialogue very annoying. Someone suggested I didn't start at the beginning but read the ones that involve Harriet Vane first. Those start in the middle with Strong Poison and I was doubtful as I do like to start at the beginning of any series that's new to me. I did as suggested though and found the later books a lot less annoying. Wimsey's way of speaking still grates a bit but the stories more than make up for that. I loved Nine Tailors and Have His Carcase. They were both intelligently written and excellent mysteries. Good luck!

I read several recommendations from Sayers fans suggesting that new readers start with Harriet, but I chose not to do that because I wanted to see what Wimsey was like *before* Harriet appeared on the scene. All the nuggets of information I've gleaned about these books give me the impression that it's Harriet I'm really going to like, and I didn't want to begin with the reward, as it were.

Wimsey's dialogue was beyond annoying at the beginning, but after those first few chapters it's like Sayers flipped a switch and stopped writing a topical mystery that would only appeal to that day and age and began writing something that just might stand the test of time.

Cathy - I give you credit for giving different sub-genres, including classic/GA crime fiction, a chance more than once. I need to do that kind of thing more often. I'm glad to hear that you weren't so put off by Whose Body? that you're unwilling to try more. Like Cath, I recommend trying The Nine Tailors and Have His Carcase. They are both great examples of Sayers' work.

Thanks for the praise, but I'm afraid I don't really deserve it, seeing as how it's based on the rather childish dread that I'm missing out on something all the other kids have already gotten to enjoy!

Boy, that sounds like my first experience with Dorothy Sayers. I started reading "Whose Body?" and gave up after getting disgusted with it in short order. Went on to read most of the rest of the Lord Peter books before circling back to try it again. Still didn't think it was as good as the others, but it was better than I was expecting.

These days we're used to books that are pretty polished, but I've noticed a number of first novels from earlier years that were not nearly as polished as you have to be today. It's been said publishers used to have time to develop their authors, but you're expected to be word-perfect out of the gate these days.

I remember reading a biography of one of America's very best editors, Maxwell Perkins. I would imagine that there are many editors today who wish they were allowed to work with and to develop writers the way Perkins did.

I have another confession to make about reading Sayers: Barbara Peters has made several references to Sayers and some of the things she did in her books that make me think this is one GA author I'm really going to like.

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Hi! I'm addicted to books (especially crime fiction), laughter and traveling off the beaten path. In my free time, when my eyes aren't glued to the printed page, one of them is usually pressed against the viewfinder of my camera. Let's see... books, laughter, travel, photography. Anything else? Oh yeah-- my dream house wouldn't have a kitchen!